As an Empath, do you feel flat, depressed or outraged after reading newspapers? Do you find your emotions being triggered? Or does your mind become frazzled after spending time on social media or online news outlets?

If you answered yes, you’re not alone. Many Empaths find themselves affected by the streams of negativity filtered out by the media (so much so, many have to avoid them). You’ll probably agree, that in recent times it is getting worse!

These days, there seems to be a never-ending stream of anxiety-inducing stories pumped out by the world’s news outlets, that only serve in causing separation, insecurity, unhappiness or hate (in truth it’s probably always been that way but with online media there is no getting away from it.).

As an Empath, whether you pay attention to the propaganda stirred up by the media or not, you may still be affected by the emotional energy it produces. At times, the energy of which is overwhelming.

We all know the fear mongering, used by the media, is a tactic used to keep people controlled, distracted and divided. There is rarely any information shared that is uplifting, inspiring or ‘feel good’.

It’s as though people are being distracted from their own power… If you keep everyone preoccupied by political opinions, global disasters, wars, and the ‘fabulous lives of the rich and famous’, it keeps people in a low vibrating space. These types of stories create anger and fear, or they indirectly tell the world that their lives are not good enough or that a life of celebrity is the only way to find happiness and purpose. All of which builds negative energy and conflict!

When conflicts arise, both in the media and out on the streets, a blanket of contagious, dark energy is produced. Which, when at it’s worse, is difficult to avoid, no matter how much you work on staying grounded and protected.

As I mentioned in my last post: negativity generates negativity. Negative emotions are contagious and are subliminally taken on even by those who aren’t Sensitive.

People get swept along by the irrational moods intentionally perpetuated by the media. They breed and feed. It is a form of gaslighting.

And because the populace is continuously fed more reasons to become fearful, infuriated or dissatisfied, and very little to feel positive and cheerful about, low-level energy continues to escalate.

So, as an Empath, even if you pay little attention to the media or the propaganda it generates, the murky energy stirred up can still leave you feeling overwhelmed, lost or alone. It can seep into your energy field, even during sleep, and its effects may show up as periods of lethargy, low or erratic moods and a sense of disconnection.

As humans, we want to find an explanation for the low moods we experience; and as an Empath, it is easy to blame these dark energies on present life circumstances.

I have already written about this subject in recent months. But as it is a continuing theme, I feel it is right to discuss it again, because of the impact it has on an Empath.

Picking up on dark energy, coming from the masses, is nothing short of exhausting. It is difficult to hide from even with the best intentions.

When affected by ‘global negativity’ it prevents an Empath (and even those not of a Sensitive nature) from staying in their true power. And if distracted from one’s true power, we cannot find the peace, happiness and balance we are meant for.

Part of overcoming the low vibrational energy, constantly stirred up in the world, is to keep mind, body and spirit strong. Eat good food, exercise, meditate, stay grounded and keep clearing your energy field.

Also, if ever there was ever a time to keep your mind empowered now is it. A good way to do this, other than the aforementioned, is by focusing on all your strengths, staying positive and being grateful for the small things.

Although trauma and upheaval may be considered as emotionally damaging, it can lead to growth and spiritual awareness… if we allow it.

Trauma is the first step we take across the tempestuous waters of awakening. Pain is a prelude to birth.

For some, the initial stages of awakening are seen in random behaviours. Two of these being: denial and blame. In the years to come, you will see this behaviour escalating everywhere. People pointing the finger of blame and convincing themselves their problems lie in the hands of another.

Most are so busy avoiding themselves, and instead lashing out at others, that they miss a unique opportunity for transformation.

Suffering is part of the ‘wake-up call’. People far and wide are hearing the sirens of the awakening, and call to change, but it is their choice how the transition goes.

We can choose to wake-up, evolve and grow, or we can choose to stay in denial.

Denial is the ‘seemingly’ comfortable ‘safe’ passage. At least for a while. But it really just prolongs discomfort.

We can’t ignore evolution forever. If we try, things eventually become so bad that we are forced to change.

All humans are presently being fed fuel to stoke up their raging emotions of anger, bitterness and hate. If we engage them, these types of emotions keep us trapped in mental conflict and away from finding peace and harmony.

Evil begets evil. Hate breeds hate. Anger feeds anger. Fear fuels fear. The more of this type of energy people put out into the world the more it grows.

We all have light and darkness within; both love and hate. Whichever we choose to give the most attention to will be the force that guides our feelings, thoughts and choices. Choose wisely. We are the creators of our own reality.

Strange Things Afoot

It is clear there are some seriously strange things happening in the world. (If you’ve read anything about the Mandela Effect you’ll know what I mean).

There is a lot of positive change happening and many truths are being revealed; but we are also being distracted to prevent us from discovering our own power.

Distraction is a powerful tool. When our mind is preoccupied with all the wrongs in the world, we don’t see what is right. And we don’t notice the powerful positive and uplifting energy that is all around us.

We are at the crossroads of change. Being a crossroads means we have a choice of which direction to take. We can choose the path of denial and despair or the one of love and gratitude. That choice is often determined by where we place our focus.

You would think it’s a no brainer to choose the positive love energy. But the more people who focus and send out the hate/fear energy the more this builds and the harder it is not to become embroiled in.

For the Empaths, this low-level energy, that has swept the globe, is agonizing to experience. But it can also be perversely alluring; drawing us in without our realizing.

I too have been lured into engaging the distressing and emotionally provoking news, designed to distract, divide and enrage. And yes, I get wound up by it all. I keep having to remind myself to unplug and stay switched off from it. I know I am wasting my time and precious energy by allowing myself to be distracted.

Some might argue that we have a duty to stay informed, we should fight for our rights and silence is consent. And, as much as I may agree, most of what we are being fed is shameful propaganda, which does nothing but feed our darkest emotions and pains the soul.

When we focus on the incredible force of gratitude and love, it is a game changer. We then see more and more positive come into our life through the law of attraction.

By not giving our attention to anything which feeds negative emotions, we free ourselves

Choosing to stay unplugged is the best form of protection at this time. Especially if you are badly affected by all the hysterical energy.

Here are some excellent ways to stay unplugged and keep your energy vibrant:

Stay away from the media: Online news, social media and televised news reports can lure you into negative thinking, frustration and anger.

Avoid politics: Don’t get involved in dogmatic discussions and avoid those who seem to thrive when politically venting.

Get outdoors: Spend as much time in nature as possible and bask in natural sunlight.

Pain serves us in mysterious ways. We eventually come to a point when we understand why we endured all we have, and we recognize how our pain shaped and changed us for the better. But we don’t need to keep experiencing it over and over. We have a choice. Now is the time to start shaping your new reality by unplugging from the old.

This Monday 20th June 2016 befalls a rather special occurrence… The summer solstice.

The summer solstice has long-since been noted as a magical day with a time-honored history of celebrations. This year’s solstice comes with an extra bonus of being a full moon. The last time this occurred was 70 years ago.

There are not many who have ever experienced a celestial event of this magnitude. Having a full Strawberry Moon on the same day as a summer solstice is a truly rare event.

The full moon in June is known as the Full Strawberry Moon because it is the time of year to harvest ripening fruit, which also coincides with the strawberry season.

If you are sensitive to the energy of full moons and/or solstices, this one will surely pack a magical punch. It is a great time to set your intentions for the year ahead and wonderful period to spend in contemplation and meditation (and to spend as much time as you can in nature) to experience the full magnificence of this occasion.

Empath Power

Empath Power, the book, has now been released. I timed the release to coincide with this magical solstice weekend. It is available in both paperback and eBook versions. Here is a snippet of what it entails:

There are some major changes happening on the planet affecting Empaths on many levels. These changes bring pain, emotional disruptions, repetitive, negative thought patterns and physical distress.

With any energy shift Empaths, and anyone of a Sensitive nature, get clobbered from all directions. Not only do they endure the discomfort of a shifting period in their own way, but they also pick up on how the populace are experiencing these ups and downs. If you often feel overwhelmed and overloaded by all you have to process during these turbulent times Empath Power is for you.

As an Empath you are one of life’s game changers! It is imperative you stay grounded, protected and healthy during these testing periods and this book is your guide to show you how!

You can go to the Kindle store here to read the first section for free and see if this book is what you might need at this present time.

Have you happened to notice recently that when you are in a really good place, maybe doing something that makes you feel happy and uplifted, you find yourself thrown off centre and being pulled down into a darker place?

You may receive a phone call, text or email off one of those people in your life who act as a trauma trigger, or a family member, who always manages to push your buttons, shows up.

Do you think this is by chance?

Those of us who have been working diligently on self-development, through balancing the mind, body or spirit, will have seen many, many positive changes in recent times. Our vibration is continually rising; our intuition has increased, as has our ability to manifest, and our moments of blissful clarity are getting bigger and better. We are becoming heart centred. Yet, despite this, we can still be pulled down into a low vibrating space. Continue reading →

You may have noticed I have written a lot about protection, healing or grounding methods, for the Empath, in recent times, and there is a very good reason for this.

There are some major changes/shifts going on that are affecting everyone on many levels. These changes are bringing about emotional disruptions and negative thought patterns.

Generally, when there are major energy shifts, Empaths, and anyone of a Sensitive nature, gets energetically clobbered from all directions.

If you feel like you are going seriously cuckoo, with all the emotions you are processing, it is probably a good time to pull out your ‘protective-tools arsenal’ and start experimenting with different techniques. Especially, if you have a daily protection ritual that isn’t working so well. Continue reading →

Have you found that you seem to be getting triggered in negative ways recently?

You’re not alone.

Many Empaths are experiencing this.

You will especially notice these triggers if in the past years, you have significantly raised your vibration and have done lots of work on yourself in mind, body and spirit.

For example: you may find that for most of the time you feel happy, then you come into contact with a certain person and it puts you into a negative place, or you may see a news segment that winds you up. Your thoughts change from being happy to low vibrational.

Thinking negatively is not a fault, humans are hardwired into having more negative thoughts than positive. It’s called negativity bias and stems back to our survival instincts from caveman days. We can brood for hours on dark menacing thoughts whilst positive ones may go unnoticed.

It only takes 17 seconds for a negative thought to take hold, which could then escalate into hours or days worth of dark thinking, which affects both our emotions and our physical health.

So, the question is, why are we getting triggered so much lately and why are we noticing all this negativity?

I don’t tend to write about the ‘dark energies’ of our planet, as it is not something I wish to focus on. But we all know there are both dark and light forces at work here. I choose to believe the dark is on its way out, but it does not seem to want to leave without a fight!

We live in an ever-changing world. Changes are happening around us every day! But it is when there is a huge energy shift that an Empath may find themselves affected.

The problem is, an Empath may not know how to differentiate between experiencing an energy shift between another person’s emotional energy. So let’s have a look at how these energy shifts impact us:

Rewiring and rebooting are words used a lot within ascension or new age circles as an expression of how we are affected by energy shifts, and, in these times, I feel those two words could not be more appropriate.

On some days intense energy shifts may lift us up or bring us crashing down. They often cause anger, frustration and depression; or incredible joy.

There are some other ways in which these energies may have affected you physically and emotionally and here’s a sampling:

Feeling wired with an intense rush of power pulsing through your body:

This fizzy-type of energy cannot be mistaken, it pretty much leaves you feeling like you have been charged up with electricity. And although you may feel mentally or physically tired, this buzzing energy can keep you awake at night.

Brain fog:

Poor memory recall and a fuzzy head seems to be the norm in recent years; but when there’s a shift do not be surprised if you feel more scatty than normal.

Intense emotional ups and downs, very bi-polar in nature, or being hyper-sensitive:

It may seem like I’m stating the obvious here, because for Empaths it is normal to feel strong emotions, yet these emotions/sensations are not like the normal ones we experience. They come out of nowhere and range from anger to blissful happiness.

You may find yourself waking up in a bad mood, with no reason, or little things that would not normally bother you suddenly have you riled. Then you may find yourself feeling happier than you ever have.

We are also getting the backlash of others’ strong emotions. Many people are now being activated or affected, as I have said many times before, it can be very easy to lay claim to another’s emotions and build them into our own life-story.

Having zero tolerance for selfish or self-pitying behaviour and drawing a line under past dramas:

You may have previously been able to put up with another’s self-centred ways, but now find yourself quickly backing away from dramas.

You could have come to a point where you will no longer put up with bad behaviour, nor allow others to pull you down. You have decided enough is enough!

This is not by chance. It’s as though we are disconnecting from all the irresolvable dramas and family or friendship feuds that we had in our past, not wanting them to have any part in our future. And there are very good reasons for this:

You have very likely been on this path for many years; and during this time you have dealt with your emotional wounds, whilst others around you looked on or had no idea what you were enduring. In recent times, those others are now going through these changes. It is their turn to process and deal with their emotional wounds.

So, if you find yourself walking away or distancing yourself from family or lifelong friends’ dramas, selfish behaviour or other, it is your internal knowing, stopping you from getting involved.

If you find past issues stirred up, that you had long since forgotten or already dealt with, it is very likely because they have been triggered within a friend or family member, as part of the energetic shifts, and you are picking up on them. This may have further pushed you away.

For Empaths, walking away from those in emotional turmoil is not something that comes naturally. It may seem somewhat cruel or aggressive. But you are not being cruel by not engaging in ‘their stuff’, it is simply not yours to deal with. They have to do it for themselves.

This is very much a DIY process!

Changing one’s diet and lifestyle:

Another sign of energy shifts is wanting to change one’s lifestyle. Like giving up people, foods, drinks and habits that do not promote all-round health, happiness and wellbeing.

Most Empaths make gradual changes to their lifestyle over the ‘awakening years’, but when there’s been a shift all the ‘health’ pieces start clicking together. You find a diet or exercise plan that works to heal your body, mind and spirit, and you want to stick with it.

Ready to take the leap:

You may also suddenly feel very ready to make big changes: in your career, social life or habitat. You find yourself doing things you have wanted to do, but put off for years.

It’s as though the past self-doubts that previously held us back, no longer have the same hold. But we also know we’ve got to meet our new life half-way and that means stepping out into the world to bring it forth.

These are just some of the ways you may have experienced the shifts and I’m sure there will be many others too, not listed here.

But one thing is for sure: if we are to truly evolve in life we cannot have the old dramas (people, jobs, lifestyles) dragging us back down.

Energy shifts help us evolve, and although they may be uncomfortable, they help take us to all the right places.

We don’t always realize it, but life is a series of linked events; each one leading to the next, like the spots on a child’s dot-to-dot puzzle. Yet, most are unaware that the seemingly random occurrences, of daily life, are in any way pivotal to the course of our destiny.

A chance meeting that happened 10 years ago may bring about an incredible job offer tomorrow, or a difficult situation endured in our teens may have helped us cope with an incident in our forties.

Because our mind is kept so busy trying to make sense of life’s conundrums, we are often kept from connecting the dots on our unique and mysterious life puzzle.

Our sensitivities and busy or stressed minds may also prevent us from seeing what a true gift being an Empath is.

The majority of us work hard trying to figure out life. We may wonder where our true purpose lies or we may constantly find ourselves looking at ways to fit into this crazy old world.

Sadly, much of our present life is missed because our mind gets stuck in the past reliving old hurts or it skips off into the future searching for hope.

It is as though our happiness lies only in the future or in tomorrow’s achievements…

It’s funny how we have been programmed to think our happiness lies in our gains. We are led to believe our future goals, will bring deserved and long sought after happiness. But how many of our life accomplishments came and went without being enjoyed or celebrated? Probably not too many. Was that because they did not bring with them the feelings of completion or fulfilment we expected?

You’ve probably already passed exams, got the job you applied for, bought the car or home, travelled the world, found a partner, enjoy financial stability, had children… In fact, when you stop and look at how much you’ve already achieved in life, you will see there’s been a lot to celebrate… So, if true contentment comes with our accomplishments shouldn’t we be ecstatic?

So why do so many of us feel disconnected or dissatisfied with our lives? It may certainly appear that the Empath is destined to go through life feeling unfulfilled or overwhelmed, and that happiness is a destiny that belongs to someone else. But I know for sure that does not have to be the case.

Yes, there are many things that come with being an Empath that make life difficult: getting hurt easily, feeling other’s emotional pain and often being a beacon for negativity. Yet all the difficulties we have endured have built an incredible resilience and strengthened us in ways we cannot begin to imagine.

It is easy to forget that we came here for a reason: to experience life as an Empath and the many challenges that go with it. Because it can certainly be a challenging path to walk. It is often strenuous, painful, overly emotional and sometimes lonely. But it is also enlightening, invigorating and electrically charged and, when we allow ourselves to see it, a true gift!

We just need to change our perspective.

As an Empath, we can boast of life experiences that few can expect to have. We feel things others don’t and we have a strong sense of intuition that will take us to all the right places, if we allow it.

Sometimes, we purposely make life more difficult for ourselves, without realizing. And sometimes we allow ourselves to wallow in self-pity or we get stuck in victim mentality. We may also subconsciously choose to ignore what we need to do to keep us safe and sane on our journey, but the keys to our happiness are always there for us to find, when we are ready.

We don’t have to wait, we can choose today to make it happen. A shift in our perspective is all it takes to change our whole outlook. It is, after all, only in the here and now where we get to experience true contentment, but we have to choose it first.

It is easy to see dark or challenging times as punishments, but when we come through the other side we often find an incredible gift inside the experience.

The experiences we have as Empaths really are unique, and every difficulty we have endured and overcome has catapulted us forward, shaping the course of our life. Everything we have experienced has brought us to where we are now, but it is up to us how we perceive our own reality.

We have a choice. If we only allow ourselves to see the dark, that is all we will know. When we focus on the silver lining of every experience we will always see it.

There are many forms of psychic attack. For the purpose of this post, I’m referring to the type which is sent from one person to another, through dark thought forms.

Most Empaths have experienced psychic attack at some point in their life. Many without realizing what they are actually experiencing.

It’s often difficult to discern between the emotions our thoughts create, by pondering a stressful subject, to those we experience through psychic attack, and this is why many Empaths are unaware they are on the receiving end of it.

Most people don’t experience the dark thoughts of others, but Empaths do. When another is having undesirable thoughts about them, Many Empaths pick them up.

We are in the midst of some challenging times, which are bringing up buried insecurities and hidden issues to the surface within us all. But, instead of facing these issues and taking responsibility, many are projecting their pain onto others in the way of blame. This can be the reason behind psychic attack, as dark thoughts are projected out.

Those who stay in a negative mind-set tend to vibrate at a low-frequency. Their energy becomes toxic to the Empath. Because many Empaths find it difficult being around this type of energy, they may need to disconnect or stop spending time with them. This often causes resentments to form in the other. A psychic attack may then ensue.

Generally, a psychic attack comes from family members (not necessarily blood-related), friends who are close or once used to be, work colleagues, or those who the Empath has disconnected from.

How can you tell when being attacked?

When under psychic attack, the tell-tale signs are repetitive negative thought patterns surrounding one person.

For example: a certain friend (the one thinking and thus sending bad thoughts) repeatedly pops into the mind, along with negatively charged feelings, throughout the course of the day or days. You may wake up thinking angry thoughts towards this person, when you have had no recent contact with them. But you wrongly assume it is your own issues creating the angry thoughts.

When under attack, the one thinking/sending the dark thoughts won’t know you are on the receiving end of them. You probably won’t be the only person the thoughts are directed at, but you may likely be the only one feeling them.

What should you do when you sense a psychic attack?

If you suspect you are under attack, stop indulging the dark thoughts or emotions you are experiencing, immediately. Which has to be said, is not easy to do. By engaging angry thoughts that don’t belong to you, you become part of the problem.

An Empath has the power to project angry thoughts back to the source without realising. But, in doing so, they unintentionally open a two-way psychic battleground. This is when angry thoughts start flying back and forth. It can go on for days. And in these cases, the Empath always comes off worse.

You may have noticed your moods are projected onto others. If feeling happy you lift others up. If sad, you see it wash over those in your presence. Even your tiredness, and stumbling over words, is projected to another.

More than any other, Empaths have to be cautious of what they project into the world in the way of gloomy, angry or irrational thoughts. What goes out has the tendency to come back amplified. (The positive flipside to this is the return of projecting positive thoughts out into the world).

How do we stop engaging dark thoughts?

The easiest way to stop negative thoughts, that don’t belong to you, is distract yourself the moment you notice them; especially if they repeatedly go back to the same person.

You may have already discovered your own way to do this, but making noise in your head can really help, like singing, humming or chanting, etc. Just like plugging in your ears and singing loudly blocks out external sounds, I’ve found this helps with outside thoughts too. You could also try strenuous exercise or get creative as a way of distraction.

How can we protect ourselves from psychic attack?

Being out of balance, physically or mentally, automatically weakens your energy-field (aura). Your energy-field is your invisible shield which protects you from outside influences, such as negative thoughts and emotions. If you have an overly porous or leaky aura (as many Empaths do) you will allow too much energy in from others , including their thoughts. (click here to find out if your aura is leaky)

Suppressed emotions, poor diet, lack of exercise, a busy head, illness and emotional pain all contribute to weakening of the aura (energetic body). If you suspect you have been on the receiving end of psychic attack it might be a good time to tune into your IGS and see what changes could be made.

By strengthening your body and mind (see here for more) it in turn strengthens your aura and thus helps ward off psychic attack or negative energy.

Modern life often brings daily challenges for an Empath. If it’s not dealing with their own ‘issues’, it’s picking up on the pained emotions of people or the collective energy of the masses.

It may look like there is no way to get away from the challenges life throws. Especially when it seems that when one hurdle is jumped, another appears.

But all Empaths have an Inner Guidance (IG), that they can depend on to guide them through the challenging times, but it helps to recognize its many signals.

Your IG is heard in the quiet guiding voice that whispers to you when you’re troubled. It is sensed in strong gut-sensations and intuitive notions. When you listen, your IG will guide you through life.

When in tune with your inner guidance, Empath life becomes smoother sailing. But the downside to this guidance is it is easily manipulated by external energy or by internal chemical imbalances (caused by chakra or endocrine imbalance). In particular, anything that lowers your vibration, such as low-level energy, a poor diet, chemicals or stimulants can affect its clarity.

To use and fully trust your IG, it helps to have a quiet mind and a balanced body.

If you have been regularly experiencing negative bodily or emotional reactions, it is a good sign that something is off and changes need to be made.

I mentioned in my last post that sensitivities are on the rise for many people (and not just the Empaths) in the form of allergies, intolerances, negative emotional responses and depression. These are clear signs that something is amiss.

For years, many Awakened people have endured varying ascension symptoms that come and go without any distinguishing triggers. But now things are different. The reactions are becoming more intrusive, both physically and mentally, and are revealing the imbalances in either the body, mind or spirit.

The problem is, many people, Empaths included, tend to focus on either the development of spiritual or physical self, but not both at the same time. They may pray, meditate or chant for hours each day and spend every waking moment wondering how they could serve others, but do no exercise, smoke twenty cigarettes a day and eat nothing but processed food. Or they may go to the other extreme of exercising two to three hours a day and are fastidious about what they eat, but have no ethical or spiritual practice.

If you are to find complete balance and harmony, you need to have the mind, body and spirit in unison.

The body is home to our spirit, or soul, which is our true eternal-self. The soul carries all life experiences and knowledge and is the only thing we get to take with us when we leave this body. Generally, when we have found balance in body and mind, and strive to live an honest life, our soul is at peace. Ignore its promptings, however, and life becomes more difficult.

If you read my posts you may have noticed I am a massive advocate for taking self-responsibility. It is my belief that if we want to see change we have to make change. We hold all the answers we need.

We may each have teachers who plant seeds of knowledge and offer us clues about which direction we should be going in life, but it is up to each of us to do it for ourselves, and decide what is or isn’t right for us.

It is easy to become dependant on another’s teachings or words of wisdom. But everyone is an individual and each life journey should be a reflection of this.

You may have access to a wealth of external information but the real answers lie within. You hold the key to your own happiness and freedom, but you only find it by following your inner guidance.

In these trying times it is too easy to get distracted by the craziness of the world and forget what this game of ‘Life’ is really all about. Evolving!

If you want to find ways to help you tune into your inner guidance and live a more fulfilled life, you may want to read 7 Secrets of the Sensitive. It is filled with information to help the Empath find balance and live an empowered life.

As a side note: if you are struggling emotionally, with no obvious trigger, if you feel like you’ve lost your faith in everything, or if you are completely frustrated with what’s going on in the world, you may find it helpful to read up on Near Death Experiences (NDEs) or Past Life Regression. This kind of material gives a much-needed reality check and puts life back into perspective. I recommend anything by Raymond Moody for NDE’s and Brian Weiss for Past Life Regression.

When you don’t have control of your thoughts your thoughts can shape your life into something you don’t want. This is because our thoughts create our reality.

Thoughts are so powerful that they can be the root cause of certain illnesses. And, because Empaths are ‘big thinkers’ they tend to be at a higher risk of developing stress-related illnesses due to over thinking.

Also, because an Empath picks up the emotions from those around them, which they may claim as their own, their thoughts are influenced by the energy of others.

If negative emotions, stirred up by overbearing thoughts, are ruling your life, now is the time to take back control. A simple way to do this is through the breath.

For all the many benefits yoga has to offer the body, it was primarily designed to still the mind. It is only when the mind is quiet that we truly find peace.

Ancient yogis knew that whilst the body or mind was in pain or discomfort, negative thoughts would remain dominant. So, yoga poses (asana) were developed to strengthen, heal and soothe the body, and work as a distraction for the mind.

The mind cannot take part in negative mind chatter when it is focused on overcoming an obstacle, such as a challenging yoga pose. But one of the quickest ways to still disruptive thoughts, and help calm the emotions that caused them, is through yogic breathing techniques.

Not only are the different yogic breathing techniques energizing and uplifting, they are also calming, relaxing and rejuvenating.

For an Empath, yoga breathing (pranayama) also helps lessen the impact of negative energy picked up from others. They also help keep a strong aura, which protects against psychic attack and leaky aura syndrome.

In challenging times, yoga and the yogic breathing systems are a blessing and should be part of every Empath’s life.

Below is a list of easy breathing exercises, and links to their demonstrations on YouTube, that you can use to calm the body and mind.

Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) is a technique that quietens the mind and blisses you out. It is brilliant to do before bedtime, especially if you have a wired monkey mind. It is also perfect for balancing masculine and feminine energies within the body.

For an instructional video click here. or to learn more about balancing masculine and feminine energy click here.

Kapalbhati (bellows breath) is a fantastic energizing breathing technique that also works and strengthens the core stomach muscles. It is best to do this in the morning (always on an empty stomach), or when one needs a quick energy boost. It is perfect for eliminating raging emotions that linger around the solar plexus area (seat of emotions). A few rounds of kapalbhati, will leave you with a quiet, yet energised, mind. For an instructional video click here.

Ujayi (victorious breath) is commonly used within yogic asana practise to create heat within the body. It keeps the mind focused and helps remove toxins. I find this technique great to use when in places such as supermarkets, where there are lots of different ‘people’ energies swirling round. Ujayi helps keep you centred and helps prevent emotional overwhelm . For instructional video click here

Dynamic Asana Practice: This is a flowing yoga practice that moves with the breath. Instead of holding poses static, for a certain length of time, you move in and out of the postures with the rhythm of your breath. Again, brilliant for quietening a busy Empath mind, but also great for alleviating tension, and building strength and flexibility within the body. (I have not attached a link to this as it’s best to learn under a qualified instructor).

To reap the greatest benefits of any yoga breathing techniques you should try to practise every day, if only for 5 minutes.

Any yogic breathing system should be approached gradually. When first attempted they may cause dizziness or sometimes anxiousness. This, however, quickly passes so don’t be put off.

If you are an Empath, chances are you will carry many introvert tendencies, even if you consider yourself to be extrovert.

The fact is introversion is something that tends to go hand-in-hand with life as a Sensitive. Even if one started life exhibiting more extrovert ways, the way the world makes an Empath ‘feel’ can trigger or build introvert tendencies such as: a regular need for solitude, not enjoying spending time around people, experiencing social anxiety when around crowds, etc.

Being an introvert in this extrovert-driven world can bring many challenges and hurdles to overcome. So much so, it can leave many Empaths completely out of place and lost. It’s as though they’ve been dumped into a reality that is not a fit, and one has to live a lie just to show up in society.

However, when you come to accept and understand ‘your ways’ and the unique ways of being an introvert Empath, life not only makes more sense but you recognise it’s ok to be who you are. You no longer feel you have to change your behaviour in order to ‘fit in’.

Below is an interesting post, written by Gregg Prescott, of in5d.com, that throws more light on some of the interesting ways of an introvert: (Copyright in5d and Gregg Prescott, M.S.. The following content may be freely reproduced in full or in part in digital form.)

Why do introverts tend to be highly spiritual?

Society dictates that we follow specific images projected by the main stream media, so why do introverts tend to rebel from these stereotypes?

Introverts tend to look within for answers versus having the need for societal approval. Often, extroverts will view the introvert as being antisocial, stuck up or as loners, but even with these labels, the introvert will stand his or her ground with complete disregard for how others perceive him or her.

If you are an introvert, then you will find complete comfort in solitude. You often find yourself immersed in deep thought and contemplation. Your need for approval by others is significantly less than the extrovert as you realize that all answers come from within.

While you may partake on social occasions, you often enjoy simply watching the environment around you versus being the center of attention, which many introverts try to avoid. On a metaphysical level, the introvert realizes how we are all connected and does not need the external approval and attention that is often sought after by the extrovert.

Approximately 75% of the world are extroverts, which makes the introvert the minority, yet the introvert will not succumb to societal pressure in order to conform.

While some introverts may be shy, there is a big difference between shyness and being introverted. Shyness is a facet of social anxiety and the fear of rejection while being introverted is the ability to be at social function without the need for complete social interaction. For example, if the introvert was at a party, he or she can easily have conversations with many people, but often chooses not to.

The introvert can have extroverted tendencies while still remaining to be an introvert. Many introverts will pick and choose the time and place to be extroverted, such as waiting in line at the grocery store. In this situation, the conversation is limited and there is no long term commitment to continue the conversation, allowing the introvert to have social interaction without being forced into it. Within minutes, the introvert will once again find the tranquility of being the observer.

Within the solitude, the introvert finds much time to reflect on life. He or she will have a small group of close friends and will feel comfortable being themselves around these people.

The extrovert will feel uncomfortable when there is a small break in the conversation while the introvert understands that sometimes words do not need to be spoken to appreciate the company of the person they’re with. A hug and a smile speak louder than words for the introvert.

The introvert is amused by the extrovert and will observe their mannerisms. An introvert will tend to be on the outside of a group, looking within.

Introverts prefer to watch, listen and observe and don’t talk very much but when they’re with people they feel close to, they will openly talk about things that they’re passionate about.

Many people within the spiritual and metaphysical genres are introverts and often look within for answers. They are more apt to understand the principle of oneness and how we are all connected on a deeper level than the extrovert, who looks for physical approval.

Introverts tend to use the right side of their brain and often are often musically or artistically inclined. They may also be poets or philosophers and can easily see outside the box.

The introvert will question the origins of what society has told us to be the truth and unlike a scientist, he or she does not need empirical data to maintain his or her own beliefs. The metaphysical fields often attract the introvert because of this.

Inner reflection is commonly used by the introvert as he or she will look within for answers versus what he or she may have been taught. The introvert will use discernment as he or she weighs what has been learned externally versus what he or she feels resonates as the truth within.

Introverts are often Empaths as well. Their sensitivity to how other people feel tends to be heightened as opposed to the extrovert who is more consumed with how others are perceiving himself or herself.

Extroverts may also be highly spiritual and will display their spirituality more openly than the introvert. They are easily able to talk to anyone about spiritual and metaphysical topics while the introvert will pick and choose who he or she will talk to about these issues.

The bottom line: despite being only 25% of the population, the introvert will rarely change their attitude or personality to appease others, with the exception of their employment. Many introverts have learned how to be “temporary extroverts” but in the end, their comfort zone brings them back to be an introvert. While society will continue to make the introvert feel like an outcast, the introvert will not be persuaded by peer pressure or conformity in order to appease others because he or she already knows that the truth is within.

”We are living in the most important era of the Mayan calendars and prophecies. All the prophecies of the world, all the traditions are converging now. There is no time for games.”

Carlos Barrios, Mayan elder and Ajq’ij is a ceremonial priest and spiritual guide of the Eagle Clan. Carlos initiated an investigation into the different Mayan calendars circulating. Carlos along with his brother Gerardo studied with many teachers and interviewed nearly 600 traditional Mayan elders to widen their scope of knowledge.

Carlos found out quickly there were several conflicting interpretations of Mayan hieroglyphs, petroglyphs, Sacred Books of ‘Chilam Balam’ and various ancient text. Carlos found some strong words for those who may have contributed to the confusion:

Carlos Barrios: “Anthropologists visit the temple sites and read the inscriptions and make up stories about the Maya, but they do not read the signs correctly. It’s just their imagination. Other people write about prophecy in the name of the Maya. They say that the world will end in December 2012. The Mayan elders are angry with this. The world will not end. It will be transformed.”

“We are no longer in the World of the Fourth Sun, but we are not yet in the World of the Fifth Sun. This is the time in-between, the time of transition. As we pass through transition there is a colossal, global convergence of environmental destruction, social chaos, war, and ongoing Earth Changes.”

He continues: “Humanity will continue, but in a different way. Material structures will change. From this we will have the opportunity to be more human. We are living in the most important era of the Mayan calendars and prophecies. All the prophecies of the world, all the traditions are converging now. There is no time for games. The spiritual ideal of this era is action.”

Carlos tells us: “The indigenous have the calendars and know how to accurately interpret it — not others. The Mayan Calendars comprehension of time, seasons, and cycles has proven itself to be vast and sophisticated. The Maya understand 17 different calendars such as the Tzolk’in or Cholq’ij, some of them charting time accurately over a span of more than ten million years.

“All was predicted by the mathematical cycles of the Mayan calendars. — It will change –everything will change. Mayan Day-keepers view the Dec. 21, 2012 date as a rebirth, the start of the World of the Fifth Sun. It will be the start of a new era resulting from and signified by the solar meridian crossing the galactic equator and the Earth aligning itself with the center of the galaxy.”

At sunrise on December 21, 2012 for the first time in 26,000 years the Sun rises to conjunct the intersection of the Milky Way and the plane of the ecliptic. This cosmic cross is considered to be an embodiment of the Sacred Tree, The Tree of Life, a tree remembered in all the world’s spiritual traditions.

Some observers say this alignment with the heart of the galaxy in 2012 will open a channel for cosmic energy to flow through the Earth, cleansing it and all that dwells upon it, raising all to a higher level of vibration. Carlos reminds us: “This process has already begun. Change is accelerating now and it will continue to accelerate.

If the people of the Earth can get to this 2012 date in good shape without having destroyed too much of the Earth, we will rise to a new, higher level. But to get there we must transform enormously powerful forces that seek to block the way.”

The date specified in the calendar Winter Solstice in the year 2012 does not mark the end of the world. Many outside people writing about the Mayan calendar sensationalize this date, but they do not know. The ones who know are the indigenous elders who are entrusted with keeping the tradition.

Carlos tells us: “The economy now is a fiction. The first five-year stretch of transition from August 1987 to August 1992 was the beginning of the destruction of the material world. We have progressed ten years deeper into the transition phase by now, and many of the so-called sources of financial stability are in fact hollow. The banks are weak. This is a delicate moment for them. They could crash globally, if we don’t pay attention. Now, people are paying attention.”

The North and South Poles are both breaking up. The level of the water in the oceans is going to rise. But at the same time land in the ocean, especially near Cuba, is also going to rise. Carlos tells a story about the most recent Mayan New Year ceremonies in Guatemala. He said that one respected Mam elder, who lives all year in a solitary mountain cave, journeyed to Chichicastenango to speak with the people at the ceremony. The elder delivered a simple, direct message. He called for human beings to come together in support of life and light.

“Right now each person and group is going his or her own way. The elder of the mountains said there is hope if the people of the light can come together and unite in some way. We live in a world of polarity — day and night, man and woman, positive and negative. Light and darkness need each other. They are a balance.”

“Just now the dark side is very strong, and very clear about what they want. They have their vision and their priorities clearly held, and also their hierarchy. They are working in many ways so that we will be unable to connect with the spiral Fifth World in 2012.”

“On the light side everyone thinks they are the most important, that their own understandings, or their group’s understandings, are the key. There’s a diversity of cultures and opinions, so there is competition, diffusion, and no single focus.”

Carlos believes the dark side works to block unity through denial and materialism. It also works to destroy those who are working with the light to get the Earth to a higher level. They like the energy of the old, declining Fourth World, the materialism. They do not want it to change. They do not want unity. They want to stay at this level, and are afraid of the next level.

The dark power of the declining Fourth World cannot be destroyed or overpowered. It’s too strong and clear for that, and that is the wrong strategy. The dark can only be transformed when confronted with simplicity and open-heartedness. This is what leads to unity, a key concept for the World of the Fifth Sun.

Carlos said the emerging era of the Fifth Sun will call attention to a much-overlooked element. Whereas the four traditional elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water have dominated various epochs in the past, there will be a fifth element to reckon with in the time of the Fifth Sun — that element is ‘ETHER’.

The dictionary defines Ether as a “hypothetical substance supposed to occupy all space, postulated to account for the propagation of electromagnetic radiation through space.” Perhaps it could be defined as the “space between space”. I would suggest it could be manifest as the alignment of charged particles from our solar system (Sun), and our galaxy (Milky Way) surge. The Ether element represents spiritual energy

“The element of the Fifth Sun is celestial. Within the context of Ether there can be a joining of the polarities. No more darkness or light in the people, but an uplifted unity. But right now the realm of darkness is not interested in this. They are organized to block it. They seek to unbalance the Earth and its environment so we will be unready for the alignment in 2012.”

“We need to work together for peace, and balance with the other side. We need to take care of the Earth that feeds and shelters us. We need to put our entire mind and heart into pursuing unity and unity now, to confront the other side and preserve life.”

“We are disturbed — we can’t play anymore. Our planet can be renewed or ravaged. Now is the time to awaken and take action. Everyone is needed. You are not here for no reason. Everyone who is here now has an important purpose. This is a hard but a special time. We have the opportunity for growth, but we must be ready for this moment in history.”

Carlos says: “The prophesied changes are going to happen, but our attitude and actions determine how harsh or mild they are. We need to act, to make changes, and to elect people to represent us who understand and who will take political action to respect the Earth.”

“Meditation and spiritual practice are good, but also action. It’s very important to be clear about who you are, and also about your relation to the Earth. Develop yourself according to your own tradition and the call of your heart. But remember to respect differences, and strive for unity. Eat wisely — a lot of food is corrupt in either subtle or gross ways. Pay attention to what you are taking into your body. Learn to preserve food, and to conserve energy. Learn some good breathing techniques, so you have mastery of your breath. Be clear. Follow a tradition with great roots. It is not important what tradition, your heart will tell you, but it must have great roots.”

“We live in a world of energy. An important task at this time is to learn to sense or see the energy of everyone and everything — people, plants, animals. This becomes increasingly important as we draw close to the World of the Fifth Sun, for it is associated with the element ‘ether’ — the realm where energy lives and weaves. Go to the sacred places of the Earth to pray for peace, and have respect for the Earth which gives us our food, clothing, and shelter. We need to reactivate the energy of these sacred places. That is our work.”

“One simple but effective prayer technique is to light white or baby-blue colored candles. Think of a moment in peace. Speak your intention to the flame and send the light of it on to the leaders who have the power to make war or peace.”

Carlos reminds us this is a crucially important moment for humanity and for Earth. Each person is important.

He said the elders have opened the doors so that other races can come to the Mayan world to receive the tradition. “The Maya have long appreciated and respected that there are other colors, other races, and other spiritual systems. They know that the destiny of the Mayan world is related to the destiny of the whole world.”

“The greatest wisdom is in simplicity. Love, respect, tolerance, sharing, gratitude, forgiveness. It’s not complex or elaborate. The real knowledge is free. It’s encoded in your DNA. All you need is within you. Great teachers have said that from the beginning. Find your heart, and you will find your way.”

I decided to write this short post for all you Empaths out there suffering and struggling with all these crazy, painful, bi-polar emotions, day-in, day-out. It’s been tough for us in recent months because not only have we got our own stuff coming up (made all the worse by solar activity), but we’ve also got all the emotional pain coming from outside of us, from family, neighbours, colleagues etc, which has also intensified and there is, seemingly, no escaping it.

It’s certainly not an easy time to be an Empath.

At this time, you maybe experiencing many more physical maladies than usual, because you are picking up and absorbing them unintentionally, from those you spend time with or near. And because so many more people are suffering with different ascension/solar related symptoms, emotionally and physically, it’s double whammy for us. The other week I spent a day with a close friend who had sore, swollen eyelids. Guess what I got the very next day after being with her? Yes, sore, swollen eyelids, whilst my friend’s own swollen eyelids, quickly healed.

It can be difficult to tell what emotional/physical symptoms belongs to us and what doesn’t because we are constantly being bombarded from all directions. It is, however, still easy for us to gauge how bad another is feeling, especially when we enter their energy field, because we will immediately pick up on their pain body. It can make being round those we love difficult, especially if they are suffering. And it is so easy for us to interpret their pain as ours, which can, in turn, set off a whole host of other bad feelings within.You might be at a stage where you’re not particularly liking yourself, and that will be because you are identifying with all the stuff coming up/in, emotional-wise, and taking it on as either being part of your personality or as your own. And it would be easy for me to say, ‘It’s not yours, don’t take it on board.’ But as I know on some days it is almost impossible not to, I won’t say it.

So, this post is just a note to say you’re not on your own in this seemingly never-ending onslaught. Each day will pose a new challenge for us, in some which way. Keep trying different remedies and see what helps (especially salt remedies) in lifting the dark, incoming energy. If an Empath were to go to the doctors in these ‘trying times’ we would surely be diagnosed with some kind of depressive illness, but at least we know the truth!

There is no way we would be going through all this stuff if it wasn’t for a reason…a very good reason. And if screaming into a cushion doesn’t help get some of the debris out, try smiling… because if nothing else, it will make you look (and hopefully feel) happier!

Did you know that random, or unexplained, sinus pressure or blocked sinuses can be an indication of an imbalance within one’s masculine and feminine energy?

There is clear evidence that a sift is happening within the balance of, what was, an overly dominant masculine world. The feminine certainly seems to be rising. So, it is hardly surprising that we are seeing many people suffering with nasal problems such as a blocked or runny nose, sinus headaches and nasal pressure (even out of the hay fever season).

All this nasal pressure, amongst the Sensitives of the world, could be a sign that a re-balance is indeed in the process of happening. But let me explain why…

Whilst studying in India for my yoga teaching, we learnt how pranayama (ancient breathing techniques) rebalances the physical and energetic bodies, which includes the chakras and nadis. And how by regularly practise one could balance their masculine and feminine energy.

Before we go any further, for those of you who are not familiar with chakras and nadis, I shall give a brief overview of the energy body:

As well as the physical body, we have an energy body known as the pranic sheath. Within our pranic sheath there are over 72,000 spiritual currents or energy nerves called the nadis which correlate with the nerves in the physical body (in acupuncture they are known as meridians). To get an idea of what the nadis look like visualise a huge plate of cooked spaghetti, with strands running in and out and overlapping.

A point where many nadis accumulate is known as a chakra.

It is said, we have 14 main nadis, of which I’m going to cover 2: the Ida nadi and the Pingala nadi.

The Ida nadi governs the feminine, left side of the body, which in turn activates the right (visual, intuitive and creative) side of the brain.

The Pingala nadi governs the masculine, right side of the body and activates the left (logical) side of the brain.

When the left nostril is dominant (more airflow passing through nostril) it means the right side of the brain is more active and when the right nostril is dominant, the left side of the brain is more active. The dominance of each nostril should change throughout the day.

Now, here is where things get confusing: Although the left hemisphere of the brain is masculine the left side of the body is feminine, and the right hemisphere of the brain is feminine but the right side of the body is masculine. So when you are classed as being left-brained the right side of your body is usually dominant and vice versa… Phew! Explaining that just gave me brain-ache!

You may have heard the saying that when someone is known to be left-brained (masculine) they tend to be logical, driven, analytical and fast-paced. The left side of the brain is associated with aggression, physical strength, control and ego.

And with the right brain being associated with creativity, inner-strength and intuition, those who are right-brained (feminine) tend to be are artsy, sensitive, nurturing and easy-going.

Empaths and Highly Sensitive People tend to be right-brained.

Here’s a quick check to see which side of your brain is more dominant:

Block your right nostril with your thumb and breath through the left, now swap over and block the the left nostril and breath through the right.

Which side was the dominant?

If your left nostril was dominant it means the right hemisphere of your brain is more active.

If it was the right nostril, that was dominant, then your left brain is more active.

Dependant on which side is active/dominant will depend on how well you fare in certain tasks.

If your right nostril is dominant it’s a good time to do physically challenging activities, when the left nostril is activated it’s a good time to be creative, meditate or reflective.

If you find your nostrils are often blocked or painful, without any apparent cause (i.e. cold, allergies or other irritants), it could be a sign that your masculine and feminine energy is off-balance or that you are reacting to the ‘shifting energy of the world’. It might also indicate that you have problems within your energy body (read more here to see if your energy body is weak or damaged).

As an Empath, it is interesting to observe how the sinuses are affected by those around you. Because Empaths are often overly-affected by other people’s energy it can also affect their masculine and feminine energies. Notice what happens to your sinuses when around certain people, especially those who are overly masculine or feminine.

To help balance your masculine and feminine energy, there is an excellent breathing technique you can use, called Nadi Shodhana. Otherwise known as alternate-nostril breathing, when practised regularly this breathing technique helps balance the ida and pingala nadis : Click here for instructions

If you have an imbalance within your masculine and feminine energy you may also be suffering with a damaged energy field and leaky aura. Learn more about this condition here. If this is the case, you will always struggle to spend time around others, until you work to repair it.